Fully juicy in its citrus character with the pleasantly sharp, biting edges of tart fruit and bitterness, Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale traces its roots to Victory’s Ranch series, a unique and comprehensive study of hops in which Brewmasters experimented with different hop varieties to showcase a range of flavor profiles and celebrate the nuances and distinctions in the resulting series’ recipes.

Pours pale yellow, a little dirty with some floaties, just how I like my big IPAs. The color has a near-glow to it, very pretty.

Aroma is a mix of fruits, fresh and past-ripe, like a fruit stand. More melon than anything, but very pleasant.

Spectacular flavor with this one. This is the first bottled brew that I've had that captures some of Hill Farmstead's magical IPA combination of super pale brews that mix equal parts earthiness, grassiness, citrus, and bitterness. This really tastes like a HF collab. A wonderfully clean yet complex beer, which features biting orange and mango on a bed of grass and dandylion bitterness.

The mouthfeel is nice, yet a touch suprisingly sweet and sticky. Still nice.

Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. snifter. The Enjoy By on the bottleneck is smeared but I can make out a 14 at the end.

A- Pours a dark golden color with a 1/4 inch off-white head that retains a bit before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a ripple pattern of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves small clots behind.

T- Just as wonderful as the aroma with more tropical fruit and a solid bitterness. Not much malt but it's not like much is needed. 9% ABV?! You're shittin' me.

M- Tingly and bright with a perfectly restrained alcohol/hop bite. Medium carbonation and a lightish body.

O- No joke, one of my new top 5 IPAs. This has the smoothness and flavor of some of the best single IPAs with the strength of a DIPA. I'm kicking myself for only getting a single of this. Forget DirtWolf, this is the one you need to get your hands on. (1,006 characters)

Overall: Another outstanding pilsner malt-based, newer hop blend Double IPA. Right up there with Victory Dirtwolf and Lagunitas Sucks. Not quite at the same level of complexity as Stone Enjoy By. (629 characters)

12 oz. bottle poured into DFH Signature glass. Enjoy by May 19, 2014 etched into the neck of the bottle.

A - Pours an unusually pale, bright golden. I probably wouldn't be able to pick this out of a lineup of pilseners. About a finger of snow white, soapy head shows good retention. Lacing clings to the glass.

S - The aroma immediately removes any appearance induced doubt that this is a big time IPA. HUGE bouquet of dank tropical fruits and tangy citrus. Fresh lemony hops and sweet nectar malts round out this amazing smelling brew.

T - Picks up where the nose left off. Juicy mango and tart grapefruit are prominent from the start. Sweet, sugary, malts take a backseat to the citrus hop assault. Crisp and clean finish. I am amazed at all the tropical fruit and citrus flavor packed into this brew.

O - Quite simply, this is among the best IPAs I have ever had. I am a sucker for big tropical and citrus hops and this has them in droves. You would be hard pressed to find a more drinkable 9% beer. If this were brewed year round, it would probably hold a monopoly on my fridge space. (1,180 characters)

Drank from a 12 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Cambridge Wine & Spirits, Cambridge, MAEnjoy by May 24 2014Served in a snifter

The beer poured a super bright, pale straw yellow with a touch of haze. Definitely the lightest colored double IPA I have ever seen. An inch-tall, tight, bubbly, bone white cap of foam topped the liquid. Streaks of drippy, sticky lacing coated the glass. Once settled, the thick, pockmarked lacing looked almost Brussels-like. Very impressive.

The nose was incredibly unique and dynamic. Super catty initially. Fruity and semi-sweet. Lemony and crisp. Some lime notes came through as well. This reminded me a bit of an alcoholic version of 7-Up. The hops also displayed some dank, weed-like qualities. Tropical fruits came out as the beer sat. Passionfruit and guava were most apparent. Overall, really interesting and quite different from any other hop-forward beer I have encountered.

Catty, lemony hops came through strong in the flavor profile as well. Crisp with sweet, candy coated orange and grapefruit notes. Lots of ripe, juicy, fruity notes as well. A generic tropical fruitiness was apparent. The finish was quite hoppy and contained hints of grapefruit peel. At 9% ABV, this beer hid its alcohol strength remarkably well.

While the beer was lighter bodied for the style, the mouthfeel was still solid. Silky smooth, frothy and supple on the palate. A finely beaded, zippy effervescence gave the liquid a pillowy softness.

Victory's DirtWolf double IPA was respectable, but this beer truly brakes new ground in the world of double IPAs. The combination of Mosaic and Azacca hops gave this beer a color, an aroma and a flavor profile that was like no other I have come across. Kudos to the folks at Victory for not merely resting on their laurels. I really look forward to their future experimental releases, as well as to the Azacca hop variety being utilized by Victory and other breweries as well. (1,940 characters)

I really like when DIPAs use Pilsner or any super light malt. Really makes the hops stand out and shine. Mosaic hops make this one juicy brew that is dangerously drinkable for 9%. And at 10 bucks a 4 pack? This is a no brainer.

Between this and dirtwolf, victory is slaying the hops right now. (295 characters)

More juiciness on the taste. Mango & pineapple juice, grapefruit, spicy pine and peppercorn. Long finish with grapefruit zest, herbalness, and more peppercorn. Comes on juicy with a little fruity sweetness, ends dry. Not much alcohol presence. Fookin noice.

Medium bodied, lush and juicy. Lingers around in your mouth as it finishes then fades away nice and dry.

This is a damn delicious DIPA. Fruity, juicy, unique, balanced, and well crafted. Just when you think everyone has done everything that can be done with IPA in all its forms, this one comes around and impresses me. Beer of the year so far for 2015. (958 characters)

I'd call the color a straw gold. Some visible sediment and a cap of white froth.

Smells... green! Like plant matter of various types, from freshly cut grass to pine needle resin. A nice fruity aspect is there too. Lemon, lime, a bit of pineapple, and maybe even some pear and green apple! Those last two are fruit aromas I don't recall ever picking out of an IPA before this one... Fascinating.

A nice, nice explosion of fruitiness pops out on the palate right away, with citrus on steroids. And I just ride that juicy, delicious, tangy citrus for a good while into a seamless rise of piney astringency and citrus rind until it mellows out into a bittersweet finish of mellow honey and bread. WOWEE.

The feel is quite prickly and full. Just as lively as the flavor.

Some DIPAs blast bitterness upon beer-drinkers to the extent that bitterness becomes the very core of the flavor profile. While I adore such palate abusers, that is not this beer's approach, and it works wonders in its own way, heaping forth a menagerie of gymnosperm and angiosperm-derived brilliance. (1,135 characters)

Served on tap at Victory Brewing in Downingtown, PA. The appearance is somewhat deceptive given its golden hue and champagne characteristic. Plenty of lace and solid retention. The smell is an amazing orchestra of tropical notes, pronounced mainly by lemon zest, banana chips, mango and orange rind. Hints of pineapple as it wanes. Yummy. The taste follows the nose, but is so deceptively smooth that the 9.0 abv is almost laughable. Side note: It has been bottled and, although I will never testify in person, I may have consumed 7 or 8 in one sitting while watching this year's NFL playoffs. Don't judge. This one goes down smooth with a bit of prickliness to remind you that it's hop-centric, but never overbearing to the point of outwearing its welcome; a sheer pleasure to drink. Like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan on top of the Empire State Building, Victory Brewing Company is taking craft beer to new heights! I want this one on repeat.

T: Big hop up front. Grapefruit, lemon, citrus flavors on the front end, followed by the astringent lemony, bitter yet slightly sweet finish. The finish is long and dry, so you want another drink as soon as you savor the first sip!

M: Silky smooth, with perfect carbonation. Like most top notch IPAs, the mouthfeel exhibits the hops and enhances everything.

O: This is a top notch IPA. Most east coast IPAs tend to be a bit too sweet/malty for my hophead tastes, but this one breaks through. Put Hop Ranch up there there with the best west coast IPA's, this one is a champ! (683 characters)

A-The beer is lightly golden tinted orange and yellow. It is nearly clear with just a hint of haze. There are a few bubbles of carbonation to be seen. The head is about one finger of light tan foam with decent retention. Some nice, fine lacing on the glass.

S-The aroma is pleasantly tropical and juicy. I smell orange, orange zest, hints of lemon and mint, and a bit of white pepper. The hops are barely balanced by a sweet, honey, buttered toast malt base. Nice.

T-The taste is also tropical, but the beer is not a complete juice bomb. Sweet orange, orange zest, lemon, tropical fruit like mango, and a hint of pepper spice with moderate bitterness. Alcohol is well concealed but there is a little earthy medicinal flavor in there. The hops are balanced by malts that suggest honey and toast.

M-The feel is on the heavy side of average with a fine carbonation of average strength. Drinkable.

O-Wow, this beer really surprised me. I have not been a huge Victory fan, but this may change my mind. This beer manages to balance fruity, tropical hop notes with more earthy hop notes (without giving me the onion flavor that I have noticed in other Victory beers), all the while balancing the hops against the malt bill very nicely. One of the better IIPAs I have had in a while. I will be looking for more of this. (1,378 characters)

I've been waiting for this one. Found it in Wegmans today. Weird that my local beer store didn't have it out. Anyway, I really wanted to see how this compares with Dirtwolf. I think I'd need to try them side by side to really compare, but unfortunately I finished my last four pack of Dirtwolf. Maybe I can find one this week.

Anyway, it pours very light yellow in color. Smells great. Citrusy and fruity in general. Bursting with the same when tasted. Others have said there's an earthy taste to. I'd have to agree. I've been a little negative after all the Dirtwolf hype, but I have to say that both of these are really tasty new DIPAs with comparatively low prices. Thank you, Victory! (690 characters)

Smell: Smells sweetly of peaches, slight pineapple, green apple, overripe orange, and Guava! I can't remember distinctly smelling guava like this before in a beer. An alcohol scent is also present, which intermingles with the ever so slight piney backdrop. This smells truly incredible.

Taste: The slightest hint of bready malt gives way almost immediately to a rush of pineapple, guava and sour apple. Then the bitterness hits. Much more so that the smell would suggest. It works, though, and it works very well. After the bitterness sits on your tongue, it leaves you with only a sweet peach and pineapple afterthought.

Mouthfeel: This may be the best part of this beer. Hop Juice seems a more than suitable name. Easy as hell to drink, beautiful bubbly carbonation ticking the tip of your tongue, a tantalizing dry finish leaving you wanting more.

Overall: Yes! This beer is absolutely incredible. It has a very unique flavor profile. Not overly sweet like some other IPA's, not too bitter or piney, the alcohol is hidden well, and dat mouthfeel. Love it. (1,227 characters)

S: The smell is all juicy, exotic fruits and strong hops. Mango, Pineapple, Apricots, Oranges, Grapefruit. The smell is incredible.

T: Follows the nose. Loads of exotic fruits - mangos and papayas. Finishes with an orange-juice like sweetness, with just a small, quick, bittering bite at the finish. Not overly complex without seemingly even a hint of malt presence, but the hop dominance is awesome.

O: I had high expectations after trying dirt wolf, but I think this one is even better. This is a hop head's delight. Pretty much one dimensional with the hops stealing the show, but wow it's a great showing. Hopefully I can find more, because I'd love to house a case of this stuff. (1,007 characters)

It smells prominently like floral, piney and citrusy hops, and tastes very much like it smells. There is a lot of hops in this one. I can taste some grapefruit and tangerine as well as pineapple and mango. Any malts in this one are hidden by all the hops as the overall taste is on the bitter side of balanced and hops.

Overall, this is a solid, very bold double IPA with a unique flavor profile and made specifically for hop lovers. (489 characters)

Aroma: Many have used the term "fruit juicy" to describe the aroma and I'd be inclined to agree. But I also get a sparkling white grape juice aroma as well. Probably one of the most unique hop aromas I've ever experienced. The aromas are definitely in the "citrus spectrum" but unlike any other American hop I've experienced. Clean fermentation character. No esters or malt character. Can't get past the sparkling white grape juice aroma. Wonderful.

Mouthfeel: Light, spritzy with high carbonation. No heat, astringency, or creaminess noted.

Overall impression: One of the most unique Double IPA's I've ever had. I loved it. Seems very dry and thin for a double IPA but the unique aroma and flavor are lovely. Glad to try it. (1,003 characters)

Contrary to the smell description, or perception on my behalf, the taste was quite refreshing: citrus up front, and onion in the back.

Again, the best way for me to describe the mouthfeel would be, refreshing. Medium carbonation, with little aftertaste.

Overall, this is one of the more unique Imperial's I'ver ever had the opportunity to taste. Hell, it even goes perfectly with my goat cheese, salami and vienna bread spread! Not something I would go out of my way to acquire, but definitely a solid beer. I'd say at least try it once. (724 characters)